Silencer for firearms.



R. A. MOORE.

1 SILENGER FOR FIREARMS.

BPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 2z, 1911,

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.4

' llllll ffarne UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

ROBERT A. MOORE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SILENCER Eon FmEAmits.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1", ROBERT A. MOORE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Silencers for Firearms, of which the following is aspecification. Silencing means for firearms have, of course, beenheretofore proposed and are of several differentclasses, includingprimarily that type of device in which the gases incident to the firingof a weapon are deflected into a closed chamber after issuing from themuzzle of the firearm, and the energy thereof retarded until dissipatedto an extent affording a reduced discharge noise when they subsequentlyescape from said chamber.

Means of the above construction have proved only partiallyr effectiveheretofore, doubtless due to the failure to sufficiently confine thegases, even temporarily to obtain the best results. Mechanical meanshave also been devised, whereby, after the firearm is discharged, avalve or closure operates to cut off the outflow of the gases followingvthe projectile. Practically speaking, however, the lettertype ofsilencing means has not proved successful, and is substantiallyinoperative.

The present invention aims to utilize the principle of the mechanicalcutting off of the passage of the gases to the open air to the extentmerely of employing a peculiar baflie which operates on said gases insuch a way as to cause a certain proportion of the same to be deflectedacross the projectile path or opening and thus form a gaseous barrier orobstruction that acts to temporarily prevent any of the remaining gasesfrom issuing into the atmosphere by direct movement through saidprojectile openingV or path. The bafiie means is also designed with theparticular object of causing the gases subsequent to the explosion ofthe weapon to move toward the outlet of the silencer casing by apeculiar whirling or spiral movement in one direction, such movement,however, being partly retarded by a separate portion of the gases whichare so defiected as to move in a prescribed spiral path intersectingthat of those first mentioned, the energy of all ofthe gases beingreduced materially in the movements above described.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mal. 26, 1912.

Application led September 22, 1911.

Serial No. 650,684.

In the operation of silencers of the classes first referred to, it hasbeen found that the muzzle of the weapon to which the silencing device1s invariably attached, becomes deterlorated in a short time by thechemical aetlon of the gases confined in a chamber formlng acontinuation of the barrell of the firearm, and in which the dischargeof the gases 1s lnterrupted partly or wholly. The actual deterioratingeffect on the muzzle resides in the fact that small holes ordep ressionsare eaten out by the gases, thus seriously affecting the reliability ofthe firearm.

Special means are provided as an essential feature of this invention,whereby the muzzle ofthe weapon isA entirely protected from injury fromthe above cause, and said means in a very peculiar manner performs anadditional function offorming a part of the connection between t-he gunand silencer, whereby slight relative expansion and contraction of theseparts, as well as vibration, is allowed and compensated for.

In the accompanying drawings Figurel is a side elevation of a silencerembodying the invention applied to a firearm of any conventional type;Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, the silencer being shown inlongitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the tubular bafile; andFig. 4 is a transverse section taken about on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Throughout the following detail description, and on the several figuresof the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like referencecharacters.

A silencing device comprising the essential features of the presentinvention embodies a casing 1 of somewhat oval cross section and isprovided with suitable means for securing the same to the muzzle of thefirearm, the barrel of the latter being shown at 2. The casing 1 isprovided in its upper portion with a longitudinal bore or opening 3 inalinement with and of somewhat larger diameter than the bore of thefirearm, and the inner end of said opening is enlarged as shown at 4 soas to receive the muzzle of the barrel 2. Projecting downwardly andrearwardly from the inner portion of the casing 1 is a hollow eX-tension 5 forming a trap or pocket, and carried by said extension at itsend portion is a bail or similar member 6' adapted to be engaged withthe bayonet stud 7 of the firearm' to firmly secure the silencer inoperative position upon the weapon. The casing 1 itself will be providedwith a bayonet stud 1 so that when the silencer is mounted upon thefirearm a bayonet may be carried thereby in a detachable manner.

Formed within the body of the casing 1 are a plurality of approximatelyvertical but'curved partitions 8, the bore or opening 3 aforesaidpassing through said partitions near their upper ends. The lower endportions of the partitions curve forward somewhat sharply and it will beapparent that the partitions separate'the casing 1 into a plurality ofchambers 9. In a similar manner, the hollow portion of the extension 5has formed upon its interior a plurality of inclined Webs 10 'whichlikewise divide the said hollow portion into a plurality of chamberscommunicating with one another. A partition 11 located in the casing 1adjacent to the muzzle opening 4 is of semicircular form, curvingrearwardly at its lower portion so as to deiiect a portion of the gasespassing from the muzzle of the firearm downwardly and backwardly intothe cham bers or pockets of the hollow extension 5 in which said gasesare temporarily trapped.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision in theenlarged opening 3 of the casing 1 of the tubular baffle 12, the outerend of which is contracted as shown at 12 so as to fit snugly in anopenin provided at the outer extremity of the caslng 1 and the diameterof the contracted portion 12 aforesaid being substantially the same asY'that of the bore of the firearm with which bore the baflie 12 is inalinement. The baffle 12 is adapted to be introduced into the casing 1through the opening 4 at the rear end of said casing and said bafliefits snugly in the opening in the partitions 8 and casin 1.. The rearend of the baiile 12 is open an said baffle is formed throughout itslength with spirally arranged .series of rearwardly and inwardlyinclined fins or blades 13. In addition to the fins 13, the baffle 12will be provided with one or more longitudinal rows of forwardly andinwardly inclined fins 14, the function of which will appear more fullyhereinafter. It will be noted that the relative arrangement of the ns 13and 14 is such that these parts form deflecting means adapted tocooperate with the gases entering the casing 1 subsequent to the firingof the weapon. In the formation of the fins 13 and 14 they are pressedinwardly from the sides of the baille 12, thereby providing openings inthe baflie at those intervals where the fins are located. Since the fins13 are spaced from one another there are formed between the variousspiral rows of said fins spiral spaces 15 providing paths in which aportion of the gases received in the casing are adapted to move.

The operation of the baiile 12 is peculiar in that as the gases incidentto the explosion of the firearm on firing pass into the casing 1, aportion of these gases will be deflected downwardly by the partition 11and thence rearwardly into the hollow extension 5 where said ases aretrapped temporarily. Another' portion of the gases aforesaid enters therear end of the tubular baffle 12 and by engagement with the fins 13such port1on of the gases is caused to be defiected outwardly into thehollow chambers 9 formed 1n the casing 1, which chambers substantiallysurround the baffle. The spiral arrangement of the fins 13 imparts tothe gases deiected thereby a spiral or whirling movement and said gasesare received primarily in the lowermost portions of the chambers -9,their energy being materially reduced in this manner. However, yetanother portio`n of the gases entering the baille 12 on coming intoContact with the fins 14 is deected across the 'tubular portion of t-hebaille in such a manner as to offer a gaseous obstruction to thelongitudinal or axial movement of any other portion of the gases withrespect to the baffle. -In other words, the deflection of a portion ofthe gases across the opening through the baille 12 obstructs andprevents absolutely a straight longitudinal movement of any of the gasesthrough said baiie, this being essential because the greater t-heconfinement of the gases in the casing 1, the greater will be thereduction in the noise or sound caused b the firing of the weapon. Thespiral pat s 15 permit a small portion of the gases to move in a spiralmanner so as to intersect those portions of the gases which are operatedupon by the fins 13 and thus the latter gases are further retardedadvantageously to promote the results desired to be obtained by the useof the silencing means.

As before premised, special means are provided for the protection of themuzzle of the weapon against deterioration by contact therewith of thegases confined in the silencer casing. For the above'purpose the opening4 at the rear end of the casing 1 is made sufficiently large to receiveand permit very slight movementA therein of a protecting member or cap16 fitted over the muzzle of c the gun and having an openingcorresponding with the bore ofthe latter. While the cap. 16 lits snuglyin the opening 4, as wel] as snugly on the muzzle of the weapon, it.

permits of slight relative expansion and conparts in actual use. Theouter end ofthe cap 16, since it overlaps the muzzle of the gun and thepoint Where the bore is formed, houses said muzzle in such a way as toprevent a harmful chemical action of the gases thereon wherebydisadvantageous results are produced as before described, and theformation of the end of the cap 16 is suchfur thermore, that thepressure of the gases in the casing 1 is always directed against the cap16 in such a way that it is held rmly and snugly upon the muzzle of theweapon.

Having thus fully described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1.Silencing means for firearms compris- .ing a casing divided into aplurality of chambers and formed with'a longitudinal projectile openingintersect-ing said chambers, and a longitudinally removable tubularbaiiie arranged in said projectile opening and having means fordeflecting gases received therein outwardly into the chambers aforesaid.

2. Silencing means for firearms comprising a casing provided with aprojectile opening therethrough and formed with a plurality ofpartitions separating it into chambers intersected by said opening, atubular baffie detachably fitted into the projectile opening aforesaidwith its tubular portion in alinement with said opening, said bafflebeing provided with means for deflecting a portion of the gases receivedby said opening across the opening and for detlecting other portions ofthe gases outwardly into the chambers of the casing.

3. Silencing means for firearms compris-v ing a casing provided with aprojectile opening therethroughand formed with a plurality of partitionsseparating it into chambers intersected by said opening, a tubularbaffle detachably fitted into the projectile opening aforesaid with itstubular portion in alinement with said opening, said baffle beingprovided with means for deflecting a portion of the gases received bysaid 'opening across the opening and for imparting to other portions ofthe gases intersecting spiral movements.

4. Silencing means for firearms comprising a casing having a projectileopening therein, and a loose tubular baffle fitted in said project-ileopening and removable through an end of the latter, said baffle beingprovided with spirally arranged fins and also formed with longitudinalns projecting inwardly from the sides thereof.

5. In combination with a firearm, silencing means comprising a casingfitted to the muzzle portionA thereof, and means for protecting themuzzle from the gases incident to firing the weapon and comprising adevice adapted to be forced snugly against the muzzle by the pressure ofsaid gases.

6. In combination with a firearm, silencing means comprising a casing toconfine gases incident to firing the weapon, and a cap loose in thecasing and fitted on the muzzle to prevent contact of the gases with thelatter.

7 In combination with a firearm, silencing means comprising a casingtted upon the muzzle portion thereof, and means loosely mounted betweenthe` casing and the muzzle of the weapon permitting slight relativemovement of said parts to accommodate for relative expansion andcontraction thereof.

8. In combination with a firearm, silencing means therefor comprising acasing in which gases incident to firing the weapon may be confined, andconnecting means between the casing and firearm permitting slightrelative movement to compensate for differential expansion andcontraction of the connected parts.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT A. MOORE.

Witnesses:

HENRY MUCK, ADOLPH B. ELVIN, Jr.

